Xinjiang, an autonomous region combining landscapes, cultural and historical relics with folk customs, is heading for a tourism region of importance with special features.

This year, Xinjiang will continue to develop some areas featuring ecological tours with stress laid on the Kanas Lake, Landscape tours centering on the Heavenly Lake and Bogadeng Lake, and cultural tours to the ancient ruins around the city of Turpan, folk customs tours in Kashi as well as tours to Ili, a north China tourist area with a southern Yangtze scenery. Based on these, two tour routes are worked out as follows: Turpan - Kola - Tazhong - Kotan - Kashgar; Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Karamay - Ulungu Lake - Kanas Lake.

Xinjiang, situated on the middle of the ancient Silk Road, is rich in historical relics, a place full of mystery. Explorers can find a paradise in Taklamakan, the largest desert of China and everlasting snow-capped mountains here. Xinjiang is a region with 13 ethnic peoples, such as Uygur and Kazak and they still keep strong national hues of their own.

The local government has already made tourism a pivotal industry. An official in charge said that Xinjiang would draw investment from both at home and abroad in tourism through the most favorable policies.

At present, Xinjiang has opened scores of air-routes linking it directly up with almost all major cities in China. In addition some special trains and special flights have lately been opened for tourists. With easy traffic and over 160 star-scaled hotels Xinjiang can basically meet the needs of tourists from both at home and abroad.